Police arrested on Wednesday the prime accused in the murder of 23-year-old Abhishek Gupta alias Chandan during communal clashes on Republic Day in Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj town.

Uttar Pradesh Police identified the accused as Saleem Javed. Police said Saleem, his two brothers – identified only by their first names Waseem and Naseem – and 17 others have been charged with murder and under other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

“Saleem was arrested by a team of local police today (Wednesday). We are continuing our efforts to arrest other accused in the matter,” said additional director general of police (Agra), Ajay Anand. The officer declined to give further details about the arrest.

District magistrate of Kasganj, RP Singh, also confirmed Saleem’s arrest to the press.

The FIR in the case had been lodged on a complaint by Gupta’s father at Kotwali Police station of Kasganj.

Saleem was absconding after the incident. Police teams recovered a pistol and some crude explosives from his residence during a raid on Saturday night.

Gupta was shot dead during an altercation between two communities over a bike rally on Republic Day, police have said.

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